1. Open Burning in North Carolina
Introduce Yourself
Explain what presentation is about - Open burning in North Carolina as it pertains to air pollution.
The following will be discussed.
What may be burned
Where it may be burned
When it may be burned

2. North Carolina Department of Environment And Natural Resources
Explain DENR and Division of Air Quality
Ad your name to this slide.

3. Seven Regional Offices In North Carolina
State is divided into seven regions.

4. Regional Offices Local Environmental Programs
Asheville Regional Office
2090 US Hwy 70 Swannanoa, NC Phone: (828) Fax: (828)
Fayetteville Regional Office
225 Green Street Suite 714 Fayetteville, NC Phone: (910) Fax: (910)
Raleigh Regional Office
P.O. Box Raleigh, NC Phone: (919) Fax: (919)
Mooresville Regional Office
610 E. Center Avenue Suite 301 Mooresville, NC Phone: (704) Fax: (704)
Wilmington Regional Office
127 Cardinal Drive Extension Wilmington, NC Phone: (910) Fax: (910)
Washington Regional Office
943 Washington Square Mall Washington, NC Phone: (252) Fax: (252)
Winston-Salem Regional Office
585 Waughtown Street Winston-Salem, NC Phone: (336) Fax: (336)
Seven Regional Offices – Review the region that you are in
Three Local Programs – Explain what local is
Local Environmental Programs
Buncombe County
Western NC Regional Air Pollution Control Agency 49 Mount Carmel Road Asheville, NC Phone: (828) Fax: (828)
Forsyth County
Environmental Affairs Dept. 537 N. Spruce Street Winston-Salem, NC Phone: (336) Fax: (336)
Mecklenburg County
Dept. of Environmental Protection
700 N. Tryon Street, Suite 205
Charlotte, NC
Phone: (704) Fax: (704)

5. DAQ Home Page – Open Burning Link at lower left (Gold Link)
Link to next slide

6. DAQ Open Burning Web Page

7. Open Burning Rule One of NC’s oldest air quality rules
First adopted in 1971
Regulates outdoor burning
Set conditions for allowable fires
Violators can be fined up to $25,000 per violation or more in serious cases
See slide

8. NC Division of Forest Resources
Responsible for protecting state and privately owned forest land from forest fires
Forest fire prevention
Controlling wildfires
DFR issues open burning permits
DAQ does not issue open burning permits
Purpose of DAQ is to Control Air Pollution…. Not fire prevention.
NC Division of Forest Resources addresses fire danger and fire prevention – issues Burning Permits
Introduce NC Div. of For Resources representative (if present)

9. Local Government
Local agencies and fire officials may have other ordinances
Local ordinances must be no less stringent than the state regulation
Following one agency’s regulation does not guarantee compliance with other agencies
Contact your local agencies prior to any open burning
Local government and Fire Officials may have other ordinances.
Local ordinances have to be as stringent as the state regulations
DAQ only enforces state regulation
Compliance with one agency’s rules does not guarantee compliance with others
Contact your local agencies prior to any open burning

10. Why Limit Open Burning?
Smoke from open burning pollutes the air and is unhealthy to breathe
Potential health effects include
Lung and Eye irritation
Headaches, Dizziness
Asthma attacks
Coughing and wheezing
and
Even death in some cases
Why Limit Open Burning?
Air Quality Regulations are written to protect human health and the environment.

11. If It Doesn’t Grow, Don’t Burn It
Only leaves, branches and other plant growth can be burned… nothing else – only if public pick-up is not available
It is always illegal to burn trash and other non-vegetative material
See slide

12. Never Burn These Materials:
Structures – standing or demolished
Asphalt shingles
Plastics, synthetics
Heavy oils
Paints
Household, agricultural chemicals
Trash, garbage
Lumber and Pallets
Treated wood
Tires
Newspapers and other paper products
Wire and coated wire
See slide

13. It is illegal to burn trash or garbage
Illegal Burning
See Slide
It is illegal to burn trash or garbage

14. It is illegal to burn demolition material
Illegal Burning
It is illegal to burn demolition material
Notice the “Hot tub”
It is illegal to burn demolition material

15. It is illegal to burn construction material
Illegal Burning
See slide
It is illegal to burn construction material

16. Allowable Burning Yard waste – Homeowners/Residential
Land clearing – Grading, building contractors, agriculture, etc…
Two major categories of allowable open burning
Yard waste may be burned by homeowners
Land clearing debris is usually burned by grading contractors, building contractors and others
The burning must follow NC Air Quality Regulations.
The burning must follow NC Air Quality Regulations

17. Air Quality Forecast Area
Point out local Air Quality forecast areas

18. Air Quality Forecast (May 1-September 30)
Check the forecast in your area before you burn!
or (1-888-RU4NCAIR)
Where to get AQ forecast – web page or toll free number
Also, local TV, radio, etc.
End of Air Quality Awareness Section

19. NC Air Awareness
Code orange, red, or purple days in air quality forecast areas – cannot burn the following
Yard waste
Land clearing debris
Natural disaster material
Fire training (excluding permanent training facilities)
DAQ recommends no burning throughout the rest of the state on code orange, red, or purple days!
Types of open burning that are prohibited on Code Orange or higher day in Air Quality forecast areas
*Emphasize: We recommend no burning statewide on these days.

20. NC Air Awareness
Exceptions to prohibited open burning on code orange, red, or purple days
Permanent Fire Training Facilities
Forest management practices
Agricultural practices
Wildlife management practices
Practices must be acceptable to the Division of Forest Resources, Department of Agriculture, or Wildlife Management Commission
See slide

21. Burning Yard Waste
Picture of open burning yard waste

22. Burning Yard Waste
Must originate on PRIVATE residence and be burned on that site
Allowed only if no public pickup available
Leaves, branches, grass clippings, and other plant waste
Does not allow stumps and logs over 6 inches in diameter
Must occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Air quality forecast - Code green or yellow
Smoke cannot create a nuisance
See slide
End of Burning Yard Waste Section

23. Land Clearing Debris
Picture of burning land clearing debris

24. Burning Land Clearing Debris
Only vegetative material such as logs, stumps and large limbs
May use kerosene or diesel fuel to start
Must occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
250 feet from public road (Wind Direction – National Weather Service Forecast)
1,000 feet from occupied structure (not on site)
Air Quality Forecast - Code Green or Yellow
Vegetative Debris must originate on site where burning taking place
Every pile can be considered a separate violation
What is land clearing?
Land clearing means the uprooting or clearing of vegetation in connection with construction for building; right-of-way; agricultural, residential, commercial, or industrial development; mining activities; or the initial clearing of vegetation to enhance property value; but does not include routine maintenance or property clean-up activities.
See slide
You may want to define:
Occupied structure means a building in which people may live or work. Also, includes buildings that house farm animals or other domestic animals.

25. Setback Exception Open burning land clearing debris
Allows open burning within 1,000 feet of occupied structures (not on site)
DAQ prior approval required
What is a “setback”?
A process through which someone is allowed to open burn land clearing debris within 1,000 feet of occupied structure(s) that are not on the burn site.
Requires DAQ approval prior to the open burning

26. Setback Exception Process
The following information is required:
Responsible party
Burn dates – Begin and end
Burn site information – Location, map & size area
Signed statement waiving objections – Everyone within 1,000 ft. of burn pile(s)
DAQ prior approval required
Information DAQ needs to process a setback exception
Name, address and day time phone number of the person responsible for the open burning
Approximate dates that the open burning will begin and end.
Exact location of the open burning – road name, street address, lot number, etc.
Include map (tax map, subdivision map, survey, site plan, drawing)
Include location of burn pile(s) and structures within 1,000 feet
Size area to burn
Signed Statement Waiving Objections – Everyone within 1,000 ft. of burn pile(s)
DAQ approval prior to burn

27. Is This Legal? Land clearing debris fire – Is it legal?
Is residence less than 1,000 feet?
Is public road less than 250 feet?
Would this site possibly require a setback exception?
Is it an Air Quality action day?

28. Air Curtain Burner Other burning methods for land clearing debris
- Air curtain burner, pit burner or air curtain destructor-
Air is blown across a pit to form a curtain of air.
The air traps unburned particles under the curtain.
Higher temperatures and increased combustion time
provides more complete combustion.
Pit constructed to ACB manufacture’s specifications
Will smoke for short period after loading
No Smoke – less than 10 percent opacity
Allowed one 45 minute start-up per day at 35 percent opacity

29. Air Curtain Burner Requirements
Vegetative material only (On-site)
250 feet from public road
500 feet from occupied structure (not on site)
10% Opacity limit (excluding 45 minute start-up)
Air quality forecast - Code green or yellow
DAQ prior notification and approval required
Requirements for air curtain burner operation
- Refer to slide-
May want to discuss Temporary vs Permanent Site
Temporary Site – Less than 9 months – Material originates on-site
Permanent Site – Over 9 months – Transported material – Air Permit Required
End of Air Curtain Burner Section

30. Fire Fighter Training
Firefighters are allowed to burn abandoned structures
for training purposes – If approved by DAQ

31. No DAQ notification or prior approval required
Fire Fighter Training
Training exercises at permanent fire training facilities (Under supervision of colleges and fire academies/training centers)
No DAQ notification or prior approval required
Fire fighter training at permanent fire training facilities
– Colleges and fire academies/training facilities -
Does not require DAQ notification or prior approval.

32. DAQ notification form & prior approval required
Fire Fighter Training
Abandoned structures – Extinguish & rescue
Junked vehicles – Extinguish & rescue
All other training fires require DAQ Notification
This includes fire extinguishment and search & rescue training
What can be burned
Abandoned structures – Emphasize no demolished structures
Junked vehicles
DAQ notification form & prior approval required

33. Impermissible Fire Training
Salvageable items, such as insulated wire and electric motors
If the primary purpose of the fire is to dispose of synthetic materials or refuse.
Previously demolished structures
Cannot burn these items/material for training
-Refer to slide-

34. Fire Fighter Training Notification
Explain first section of Notification
Notification form is required for most training
Available on internet –
Submit at least 10 days prior to burn
Your fire department information
Training location
What will be burned

35. Meet The Following Conditions
Notification – Regional office (10 days prior to burn – can FAX)
Notification and approval – HHCU/Asbestos (Notification must be postmarked 10 working days prior to the start date. Faxes not accepted)
Change schedule – Notify HHCU in writing prior to original start date and Call DAQ regional office
Air quality forecast - Code green or yellow
Fire training must meet certain conditions to be in compliance with Air Quality Regulations
Proper Notification and approval from Regional Office (10 days prior to burn - Can FAX form to DAQ)
Proper Notification to the Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Health Hazards Control Unit (10 days)
Deviations in burning schedule - must call Regional Office at least one hour before the burn.

36. Training Objective - Experience
Experience and Practice must always be the objective
End of Fire Training Section

37. Other Allowable Burning
Campfires
Outdoor cooking
Bonfires for festive occasions
Managing forests or wildlife habitats
Controlling agricultural pests and diseases
Disposing VEGETATIVE storm debris from hurricanes and other natural disasters (Requires DAQ prior approval)
Other types of allowable open burning
Fires can’t contain synthetic materials
-Refer to slide-
May want to discuss:
Forest management open burning practices must be acceptable to NC Division of Forest Resources
Wildlife management open burning practices must be acceptable to NC Division of Wildlife Resources
Agriculture open burning practices must be acceptable to NC Department of Agriculture
End of Allowable Open Burning Section

38. Open Burning Compliance
DAQ receives complaint
Investigate complaint
Other investigations/inspections
Fire marshal
Other fire officials
Solid waste officials
Other state/local officials
DAQ receives complaint from concerned citizen
Complaint is investigated to determine compliance
Investigations or inspections may be conducted by other officials:
Fire Marshal
Other fire officials
Solid waste officials
Other state/local officials
May be reported to DAQ for review

39. Other investigations Here’s what we’d like to know
Materials being burned
How big the pile or area burned is
Pictures of the burning and around the open burning site
Name of violator and any contact information
Info needed from the fire department or other agency if you are the complainant
A good report from them helps build our case
They can choose to be anonymous if necessary

40. Enforcement Document Violation Issue Notice of Violation
Notice of Recommendation for Enforcement
Civil Penalty Assessment (Up to $10,000 per violation)
If violation is documented -
Issue Notice of Violation
Notice of Recommendation for Enforcement
Civil penalty assessment (May be $10,000 per violation)

41. Open Burning Alternatives
Compost yard waste
Chip tree limbs
Land clearing debris
Haul to sawmill or pulpwood yard
Chip or tub grind remaining material
Recycle or re-use non-vegetative material
Contact local solid waste facility
DAQ encourages everyone to pursue other acceptable disposal methods
-Refer to slide-
Call Pollution Prevention OR 1-(800)

42. Breathe… Don’t Burn! Outdoor fires pollute the air
Smoke is unhealthy to breathe
Recycle or properly dispose of waste
See slide

43. Contact Information
Call OPEN BURN ( )
Review contact information
End Presentation
Ask for questions and comments